Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-13


she was something very like sunshine.
When she came back five minutes aft
EDWARDS from showing John Earring to
the guest chamber, Celeste was not
visible, and with a smile she went
her. Presently she heard low ripple
of laughter in the little conservatory
and swept with a quick graceful mo-
ton to her.
20. you little MINK she cried,
drawing her out from among the low
ers and gazing smilingIy into her face,
you are very deep indeed! Isn't this
the Western orphan boy you told me
OF after you had been to Openstone a
long time ago? Aht all l begin to see
why the other seekers have ALWAYS.
small and great been sweetlv shaken
of. All. AIR and she gave the pink
cheek next to her a little pinch with
her finger tips and laughed.
Done you ike him?" asked the
girl. giving up her laughing pout for
quick, eager look into the CHEEKY face.
For answer the other sobered a
she saw the look in the clear. appeal
ing eyes. and with mist rising into
her own. drew the slender girl close
against her and held her there with the
siikeu head nesting against her neck.
Then she kissed her tenderIy. and
with her arm about her they went out.
the younger with her eyes upon the
carpet. and the elder looking out be-
fore her with tear slipping down
either cheek.
John Earring found the dinner hou1
almost pleasant beyond words. save
that Celeste seemed Il little shy. He had
never known much that was lovely in
domestic life, and now. after his years
of the little room under the roof Of
Bowers Block and the rather men
agerie-like methods about the pub
lie board OF the Openstone H0-
tel. the chaste and tranquil
atmosphere that enveIoped Mrs. Bray
toms snowy table pervaded him with
very grateful sense. He felt the
spirit of his surroundings enter and
sOoth him ike sweet perfume. and
talked on in his fine, quiet way through
what seemed TO him the first real hour
of happiness he had ever known.
Celeste was ready with smile and listen
ing ear. but not with many words.
while the young man and Mrs. BRAY
ton got on very fast and smoothly to-
9ether. Something IN the air made
him tell them OF the beautiful things
he had seen. with such language q.
only a poetic insight creates. and with
such a relish as comes alone of an IN
sated heart. Then, helped on by the
elder lady, he uncOusciousiy unfolded
his pity for the poverty and wretched-
ness he had seen. and Celeste through
her luminous eyes seemed to come
very near 10 him.
After that. the lucent June DAYS be
can to stretch away swiftly. with the
first sense Of soft delight increasing in
the young mans blood until he felt
life, with is fair surroundings AMI daily
privilege Of looking upon Celeste face,
4 very delicious thing. Now and then
his natural inclination to be at work
wrenched at him. and he said to him
self that he had come to be only ar
idler. 4 sort of pleasure-enfeeb led shir1-
CT in the game Of life, yet he had had
50 little OF gIadneSs he could not take
his lips away from the bright bowl
when at last be held It in his hands
H said TO himself he should be going,
but the soft law that held him and that
he did not recognize. was too strong
for him. Then he had no kin or cstab-
hsEed interests to take him away. whV
should he rot loi5er little:
Then. too, the pure. motherly
regard OF Mrs. Bravton. a thing
denied him in his previous life. was
very comforting. In few DAYS she
had told him of her son. lost in the war
before he had come of age; OF her
daughter. 4 young wife in Cleveland:
of her own husband. once merchant
of the city, who died three summers be- .
fore, leaving her al income ample for
her needs and something over with +.
which to ease her heart Of it, chariC- /,
able prOmptings. Then she told him
of Celeste ; life. an absorbing theme to (.
him and strange and sweet in its rev I,
Citations. How Ce.este's father had +.
been a Colonel in the war. and lost his /
life leading 4 charge on the field OF
then how the Won +
dertul wife and mother took .
her child and entered the service as a /.
soldiers nurse; of the brave, helpful /
life they led. o. the mothers heroic .
deeds. OF the child'> carrying water to .
the wounded in the Wilderness. OF her
wound in the limb with Il musket ThaII
which left her limping through life.
Of the mothers life and death IS a
newspaper correspondent at Washing .
ton when the war was over, and Ce-
estes coming TO Cincinnati TO share
ner home. :
The narrative touched the soft-heart-
ad. brayerv-loving John Earring Is
with invisible fire. 1t seemed to him
be could feel Celeste wound, and -
the blue-cyed. birci-lile child with cups
Of water in her hands giving drink
TO the dying upon the field Of carnage. .
It thrilled Elm: where had be been in
hat heroic hour? Working out his
debt of gratitude in Joel
i nitnev's store, Though it was not
ret his own honest action seemed triv-
al to him. Prompted by loving pity,
If what bravery had she not been ca
Fable. All. the noble daughter of the
lead soldier, This. arch. shy. gentle.
bender. siiver-throated Celeste! Was
t possible such strength and seltiess
ire lay back of all her chaste and soft
locility? Surely be was only a boy. he
bought. and did not vet know much
II women.
Every morning he walked with her
Town the hillside through the sweet
Tune air. and together they boarded q
ar anu EltlGI- IiElLtE INTO the low L.
rot down at the door Of the School of
Iusic where she taught. These little
rips were very much to him, he found
OF then she was in his care. and while
Yer silent Is to the slight lameness
nd It's hail0wed cause. the touch was
tender with which he aided
er. Then she was less shv. he thought
: in truth she was. being carried away
4
rom her instructive attempt to hide
h.nnr-tsrr,i